NS-11 Cracked Teeth with Radicular Extension: evidence-based Methods of Saving More Teeth and Principles for Increasing Success for All Endodontic Procedures

CE Hours: 1.5

Description: Endodontists are the specialists uniquely positioned to diagnose, manage, and prognosticate cracked and fractured teeth.  Challenges of managing these cases abound due to multiple variables and inherent complexities. This presentation examines longitudinal tooth fractures from both a broad clinical perspective and a focused analysis of the literature to provide clarity on correct management. It specifically explores evidence-based modifications to our endodontic protocols that appear to improve the prognosis not just for endodontically-treated cracked teeth, but for all of our procedures generally . Recent clinical evidence suggests that treatment of cracked teeth, including those with radicular extension, can provide lasting benefits for patients and that the alternative of extraction and implant poses a significantly inferior option. Ours is the specialty of saving compromised teeth and this presentation reports insights into how we can provide more of this service to our patients and bolster our outcomes.

Learning Objectives:  

• Explain how recent studies indicate that with proper management, endodontically treated cracked teeth, even those with radicular extension of the crack, should have favorable prognoses
• Describe how new evidence-based modifications to our procedures and post-operative protocols help us control certain variables that are relevant to outcomes not only for treatment of cracked teeth, but for all of our surgical and non-surgical endodontic procedures
• Explain how, with the increasing awareness of dental implant problems and patients' resolve to save their teeth, we endodontists can help patients save even more of their compromised teeth.